Sen. Martinez stranded on Caribbean island of St. Martin after Hurricane Irma

January 29, 2018

State Sen. Iris Martinez is stranded on the Caribbean island of St. Martin in the wake of Hurricane Irma and is awaiting rescue, her office said Friday.

The Chicago Democrat was at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort for a “much-needed days off after this whole mess in Springfield,” administrative assistant Sonia Sanchez said. Martinez’s office had not heard from her since Wednesday before getting a call Friday morning.

John Patterson, a spokesman for Senate President John Cullerton, said late Friday afternoon that arrangements were being finalized to have her and others evacuated from the island.

Earlier in the week, Sanchez said Martinez told her office she felt confident the resort was prepared for hurricanes. When she called Friday Martinez “said (the hurricane) was horrible,” Sanchez said.

“I think her biggest fear right now is that … Hurricane Jose is on its way there as well,” Sanchez said, referring to a separate storm approaching the Caribbean. “They’re trying to get these people evacuated before Jose gets there.”

At least five people died on St. Martin, an island split between the Dutch Sint Maarten and French St. Martin. Homes were splintered, schools were destroyed and the cafes and clothing shops of the French seaside village of Marigot were submerged in floodwaters.